Bible Commentaries

Choose from over 90 Bible Commentaries freely available online at StudyLight.org for sermon, Bible study, and Sunday school preparation.

A biblical commentary is a written systematic series of explanations and interpretations of Scripture. They are written by some of the most knowledgeable theologians in church history. Through a personal narrative, they provide deeper understanding and insight into the Bible, and can be valuable tools to assist both casual reading and serious study.

Whole Bible Commentaries (48 total)

Educated at Princeton seminary, Albert Barnes was a dedicated student of the Bible. Though passed over by the biographical sketches of influential theological writers, his notes on the New Testament continue to be quite popular even today.

One of the most eminent of the early Methodist ministers in England, Joseph Benson was born at Melmerby, in Cumberland, Jan. 25, 1748. At sixteen he became a Methodist and was converted. In 1766 Mr. Wesley appointed him classical master at Kingswood School. He devoted himself closely to philosophy and theology, studying constantly and zealously.

The Bridgeway Bible Commentary deals with each biblical book in such a way that readers readily see the meaning of the Bible in its own context and its relevance in today's world. It s neither a word-by-word technical reference work nor a mere collection of overviews. It provides a free-flowing commentary on the entire text of each biblical book, along with background material, maps, diagrams, drawings, tables and feature articles.

The Companion Bible is popular among Christians who want to understand God's Word in the trusted and familiar language of the King James Text. The Companion Bible is sometimes touted by proponents of the KJV as a free and compelling Study Bible that remains immune to the trends of modern Study Bibles and translations.

Indisputably one of the most influential figures of the Christian Reformation, Calvin's lasting impact on Christian study, theology, and thought can be experienced through this 22-volume exposition of the Bible. (Calvin did not include exposition on Judges to Job, Proverbs to Song of Solomon, 2 & 3rd John, and Revelation.)

Author of one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written, Adam Clarke shows his Godly respect for the Bible as well as his courage to give his opinion on many difficult and controversial questions other commentaries often avoid.

A Commentary on the Holy Bible, six complete volumes (1801-1803), written by the Methodist Missionary Thomas Coke, whom John Wesley called his "right hand." Coke is regarded as one of the founders of the Methodist Church in the United States. Francis Asbury called Coke "the greatest man in the last century" in his memorial sermon.

Published in 1878, this is the unabridged version of Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary. This version includes the Greek and Hebrew words, along with double the content of the abridged, official e-Sword version. Most online versions of JFB are abridged and include only a fraction of what the authors said!

Written by Dr. Thomas L. Constable over a 25-year period, these notes provide commentary on all 66 books of the Bible, and contain more than 7,000 pages of material. Dr. Constable's Notes, also known as expository notes to Dr. Constable's seminary students, are intended to help you to better understand the Bible.

Compiled by 40 Bible Scholars and edited by Dummelow, this commentary has received favorable reviews from Christians of many denominations. At one time, this was one of the most popular commentaries of the 20th century.

This unique Bible Commentary is to be highly recommended for its worth to Pastors and Students. Its expositions are simple and satisfying, as well as scholarly. Among its most commendable features, mention should be made of the following: It contains profitable suggestions concerning the significance of names used in Scripture.

The Expositor's Bible is one of the most-recognized standards of expository commentaries. It was written by twenty-nine eminent scholars of the day who were also full-time preachers. These writers also represent every important branch of Protestantism.

First published in 1922, this nine-volume commentary by Arno C. Gaebelein is praised and respected by legions of devoted students. This commentary on the whole Bible has been a standard reference work for most of a century, and the strident words of A. C. Gaebelein still ring with timeless truth.

He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon. Gill is little known, but his works contain gems of information found nowhere outside of the ancient Jewish writings. Gill presents a verse-by-verse exposition of the entire Bible.

This is commentary on different books of Bible by L M Grant. Contains introduction to each Book and commentary at Chapter Level Only. There is no commentary at each verse Level. There are some books and chapters the original author himself omitted. You may not find comments for them.

While many Bible commentaries strive for exhaustive treatments of Scripture, Dr. James M. Gray's Concise Bible Commentary instead endeavors to be succinct. According to Gray's own explanation of this work, it "represents the labor of eight years in the use of such spare hours as could be found in an otherwise well-filled life, but had the plan permitted its expansion into a series of volumes instead of one, it might have been completed earlier."

David Guzik is the new Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara. His excellent study materials have been edifying the Christian community for the past seven years. Currently he is the director of the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Siegen, Germany.

The Poor Man's Commentary by Robert Hawker, contains 9,600 comments on the Old and New Testaments. Hawker's writing frequently contains rich, devotional overtones and Hawker often relates passages to Christ.

With an easy to read style, this commentary on the New Testament will be invaluable to Christians old and young who seek to understand the word of God, the salvation He offers in His Son and His plans for our lives.

The Popular Commentary of the Bible by Paul E. Kretzmann, Ph. D., D. D., has been a favorite among confessional Lutherans since publication of the first volume in 1921. The four volume work, completed in 1924, consists of nearly 3,000 pages. Kretzmann, as it is popularly known, has been out of print for quite some time.

Maclaren was born in Glasgow on February 11, 1826, and died in Manchester on May 5, 1910. He had been for almost sixty-five years a minister, entirely devoted to his calling. He lived more than almost any of the great preachers of his time between his study, his pulpit, his pen.

Frederick Brotherton Meyer, a contemporary and friend of D. L. Moody and A. C. Dixon, was a Baptist pastor and evangelist in England involved in ministry and inner city mission work on both sides of the Atlantic.

Frederick Brotherton Meyer, a contemporary and friend of D. L. Moody and A. C. Dixon, was a Baptist pastor and evangelist in England involved in ministry and inner city mission work on both sides of the Atlantic.

Henry's one volume Concise Commentary provides a condensed look at nearly every verse in the Bible. The original was written in 1706.

Published in 1939-1940, this is a timeless collection of Biblical analysis, exposition, and truths with a unique blend of literary creativity. The metaphor of a water well perfectly describes the depth of thought and spiritual clarity.

The Church Pulpit Commentary includes work by various important members of the Anglican Church such as Thomas Arnold, Rev. F.D. Maurice and John William Burgon. It includes short essays which cover one verse, sometimes two, at a time that the authors view as important and relevant.

In this modernly written verse-by-verse commentary of the Bible (see book exclusions below), Dr. Peter Pett leads the reader through the Scriptures with accuracy and insight. Students and scholars alike will delight at Pett's clear and direct style, concisely examining the original text, its writers, translations and above all, the God who inspired it. Study the bible online.

First published in 1919, Peake's commentary of the bible was a one-volume commentary that gave special attention to Biblical archaeology and the then-recent discoveries of biblical manuscripts. Biblical quotations in this edition were from the Revised Version of the Bible.

Finished by friends after his death, Matthew Poole's two volume commentary on the Bible is highly regarded for his very prudent and judicious expositions. Considered one of the great Puritans, few names will stand so high as Poole's in the Biblical scholarship of Great Britain.

Published in 1892, its 19,000+ pages, 37 volume commentary covered the entire Bible with passage homiletics from several authors; historical, cultural, and geographical information; verse by verse exposition; point by point sermons with cross-reference aids in developing Bible studies and sermons.

Published in 1890, its 20,000+ pages, 23 volume commentary covered the entire Bible with passage homiletics from several authors; historical, cultural, and geographical information; verse by verse exposition; point by point sermons with cross-reference aids in developing Bible studies and sermons.

This was a 12 volume, chapter by chapter commentary of 4,800 sermon outlines and 24,000 homiletic references that the editor compiled from authors he liked. The Sermon Bible was compiled/edited by William Robertson Nicoll who also edited the Expositor's Bible Commentary.

These expository outlines (or "skeletons") are not a verse-by-verse explanation of the English Bible. Rather, they are a chapter-by-chapter study with explanations of the most important and instructive verses in each chapter.

People have relied on this reference work in their daily studies for more than 90 years. C. I. Scofield intended to provide a concise yet complete tool to help the new reader of the Bible. Originally written in 1909.

As the most widely read and often quoted preacher in history, Charles Haddon Spurgeon demostrated his understanding of the Scriptures through these brief expositions of passages from the Holy Scripture. Study the bible online.

While not a commentary on all the books of the Bible, Ray Stedman takes a fresh approach to interpretation of the word of God. Through a ministry that spanned five decades, Ray became recognized a one fothe most influential theologians of modern times.

This commentary represents 40 years of Sutcliffe's study of the Bible. After retiring at age 74, he compiled this commentary from his Bible study notes he accumulated over the years. The commentary is mostly expositional with some exegetical comments and Hebrew/Greek analysis.

Over 34,000 pages in its original 56 volume printing, the Biblical Illustrator is the largest commentary of its kind. With contributions from many of the most well-known authors of the time, this massive compilation is arranged in commentary form for ease of use in personal study and devotion, as well as sermon preparation.

John Trapp was an English Puritan. His large five-volume commentary is still read today and is known for its pithy statements and quotable prose. His volumes are quoted frequently by other religious writers, including Charles Spurgeon.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge has provided a cross-reference resource for Bible students worldwide for generations. This highly respected and nearly exhaustive compilation was developed by R.A. Torrey from references in Thomas Scott's Commentary and the Comprehensive Bible. With nearly 500,000 cross-references it is the most thorough source available.

Dr. Daniel D. Whedon was a central figure in the struggle between Calvinism and Arminianism. He devoted 25 years to writing the New Testament commentaries. Other authors wrote the Old Testament commentaries with Whedon serving as the editor. Study the bible online.

Old Testament Only Commentaries (1 total)

A triumph of rigorous scholarship and sound theological judgement, Keil & Delitzsch is a classic in conservative biblical scholarship and remains one of the most popular Old Testament commentaries available. Beginning with the nature and format of the Old Testament, this evangelical commentary introduces each book of the Old Testament, and offers in-depth analyses of the Hebrew text as well as grammatical and philological issues.

New Testament Only Commentaries (17 total)

Well known throughout the late 1800's for their prolific writings on various subjects, John and Jacob Abbott decided to put to paper their personal study and translation of the original Greek New Testament. Included are 50 woodcut illustrations from the original printing.

William Barclay is known and loved by millions worldwide as one of the greatest Christian teachers of modern times. His insights into the New Testament, combined with his vibrant writing style, have delighted and enlightened readers of all ages for over half a century.

The Gnomon of the New Testament was written in 1742 by Johann Albrecht Bengel and is the result of twenty years' labor. Bengel's Gnomon awakened a fresh interest in the study of the New Testament. The Gnomon of the New Testament is still one of the books most valued by expositors of the New Testament.

William Burkitt is known for his Bible commentary, Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament (Matthew through John published 1700, Acts through Revelation published 1703). C. H. Spurgeon regarded Burkitt's commentary as a "goodly volume," and recommended "attentive perusal" of it.

Published around the turn of the century, the Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges is filled with great exegesis and written by the best British Bible scholars of that era. Verse by verse, the authors frequently used outlines, historical facts from inside and outside the Bible, word studies, and extensive Greek analysis. Study the bible online.

This work ranks among the most important commentaries on the Greek text of the New Testament from the 19th century. Drawing from the scholarship of twenty contributors under the editorship of William Robertson Nicoll, this massive reference work contains textual, literary, and grammatical commentary on nearly every Greek word in the entire New Testament

The Family Bible "with brief notes and instruction [and cross references], designed to give the results of critical investigation, and to assist the Reader to understand the meaning of the Holy Spirit in the inspired word" was first published in 3 volumes in 1851 by the American Tract Society. The comments follow the Authorized Version/KJV

William B. Godbey was one of the most influential evangelists of the Wesleyan-holiness movement in its formative period (1880-1920). Thousands of people experienced conversion or entire sanctification under his ministry, and Godbey gained a reputation for having revivals everywhere he went.

Greek New Testament critically revised text, digest of vatious readings; marginal references to verbal and idiomatic usage; prolegomena; critical exegetical commentary; for theological students and ministers. Originally done in four parts from 1849-1861, revised from 1863-1878

Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer, a German Protestant with a gift for languages, published the first commentary in this collection in 1832 at the age of thirty-two. Each volume focuses on the Greek text, and Meyer uses and discusses an abundance of sources and authors to illustrate meaning derived from the text. Meyer also likes to include important bibliographic material which was integral to his studies and research.

For over 30 years Pastor Henry Mahan delivered a weekly television message. Each message ran for 27 minutes and was widely broadcasted in the Tri-State area of Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. This commentary is the result of his intestive desire to take the glorious mysteries of the gospel of Christ and put them in plain, everyday, "shirtsleeve language." Study the bible online.

Through he had no formal training for the ministry, G. Campbell's devotion to studying of the Bible made him one of the leading Bible teachers in his day. His reputation as preacher and Bible expositor grew throughout England and spread to the United States. This commentary is the culmination of his study of God's Word.

Known to many as the "Old Green Commentaries", the Bible Study New Stestament commentary series was extremely popular. However, due to the high cost of reprinting, College Press, the publisher of these timeless treasures, has chosen not to reprint but instead offer them electronically for free.

Originally published in 1887, Marvin Vincent's Word Studies has been treasured by generations of pastors and laypeople. Commenting on the meaning, derivation, and uses of significant Greek words and idioms, Vincent helps you incorporate the riches of the New Testament in your sermons or personal study without spending hours on tedious language work.

Gospels Only Commentaries (6 total)

This work by Thomas Aquinas demonstrates an intimate acquaintance with the Church Fathers and is an excellent complement to the more recent attempts to understand the inner meaning of the Sacred Scriptures. For each of the four Gospel writers, the Catena Aurea starts by indicating the verses to be analyzed, then phrase-by-phrase, provides the early Fathers' insights into the passage.

Also known as a "Harmony Of the Four Gospels," this chronology of the life of Christ, by J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton, has titled sections and sub-divisions. Comments are injected in the text.

Individual Book Commentaries (20 total)

Joseph Agar Beet was an English Wesleyan and member of the faculty of theology in the University of London 1901-05. He delivered the Fernley Lecture on The Credentials of the Gospels in 1889, and lectured in America in 1896.

Broadus digs deep into the 1st Century A.D. and brings out the manners and customs of the day and uses the information to bring color to the Biblical story of Jesus Christ's life as recorded by Matthew. It also cross references to the other three gospels and puts together a detailed and complete record of Christ's journey on earth.

This commentary on Philemon, by Bradley Cobb, is a continual work in progress, based on the Biblical Text as translated in the King James [Authorized] Version. Other translations will be referenced as necessary for clarity regarding a word or phrase.

This commentary is a compilation of over 2700 pages of commentary notes written and compiled over the past 15 years by Mark Dunagan. These commentaries were written in preparation to teach each of the books in an adult Bible class.

John Eadie's publications were connected with biblical criticism and interpretation, some of them being for popular use and others more strictly scientific. To the former class belong the Biblical Cyclopaedia, his edition of Alexander Cruden's Concordance, his Early Oriental History, and his discourses on the Divine Love and on Paul the Preacher; to the latter his commentaries on the Greek text of St Paul's epistles to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Galatians, published at intervals in four volumes.

Robert Haldane was a Scottish churchman who was instrumental in the establishment of 85 "Churches of Christ" throughout Scotland and Ireland. In addition, he also influenced the spread of Protestant Christianity across the continent of Europe, impacting France (Le Reveil), Germany (Die Erweckung) and the Netherlands (Het Reveil).

These commentaries are not written to be exhausitve and wordy. Instead, they are concise, easy to understand, and conversational in tone. This file contains 15 commentaries spanning 24 books of the Bible.

Ironside was one of the most prolific Christian writers of the 20th Century and published more than eighty books and pamphlets, a number of which are still in print. He also wrote the popular hymn Overshadowed. One editorial reviewer wrote of a 2005 republication that, "Ironside's commentaries are a standard and have stood the test of time."

The importance of this Commentary on Galatians for the history of Protestantism is very great. It presents like no other of Luther's writings the central thought of Christianity, the justification of the sinner for the sake of Christ's merits alone.

This classic, Greek commentary on 1 and 2 Thessalonians has transcended time, still cited by modern Bible scholars today. The verse by verse, exegetical comments and dissertations were written by George Milligan, whose 19th and 20th century scholarship set the standards for Greek vocabulary.

Walter Scott was one of the four key early leaders in the Restoration Movement. He was a successful evangelist and helped to stabilize the Campbell movement as it was separating from the Baptists. His insight on the book of Revelation is still as refeshing as when it was written.

This seven volume magnum opus by Charles H. Spurgeon was first published in weekly installments over 20 years in The Sword and the Trowel, the periodical of Spurgeon's London Metropolitan Tabernacle. Sections were published as separate volumes, with the seventh released in 1885.